African Heritage Month celebrations begin in southwestern Nova Scotia

Digby County has led the way with African Heritage Month celebrations in Southwestern Nova Scotia.

The Town of Digby, the Digby Education Committee and African Nova Scotia Affairs hosted an African Heritage Month proclamation event on Jan. 25, at the Digby Station.

About 70 people attended the event which included drumming by Patrick and Joanna Jarvis on drums crafted by Patrick, musical selections by Andre Roberts, remarks by Digby Municipal Warden Linda Gregory, Digby RCMP Cpl. Mike MacAuley and Digby Mayor Ben Cleveland, and the poster unveiling, followed by refreshments.

Cleveland received a painting of the Pan African flag created by Ganaie Miller, who gave a presentation on the colours in the flag and what they represent.

“A great time was had by all,” says Leslie Brinton, executive assistant for the Town of Digby.

In Shelburne County, an African Heritage Month proclamation event is scheduled for Feb. 1 at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre starting at 11 a.m.

The event will include musical performances by the Hillcrest Academy Choir and Akaya Shand; as well as a reading of the African Heritage Month proclamation by representatives of the municipal units in Shelburne County, and an unveiling of the provincial African Heritage Month poster, said Braden Chetwynd, programming and outreach co-ordinator for the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre.

This event is presented in partnership with the municipalities of Shelburne and Barrington.

On Feb. 11, from 1 to 4 p.m., in support of the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl, the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre is hosting the first Lobster Chowder Chowdown Showdown. Ten restaurants will compete for best lobster chowder at the showdown. Guests will have an opportunity to sample all 10 chowders as well as offerings from additional South Shore businesses in this afternoon of sipping and savouring.

On Feb. 15, at 7 p.m., the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre is hosting an African Heritage Month film screening of The Road Taken.

“This documentary takes viewers on a ride through history to hear the experiences of Black sleeping-car porters who worked on Canada’s railways from the early 1900s to the 1960s, and their fight against discrimination,” said Chetwynd.

The film screening is presented with support from the National Film Board of Canada.

Back to Digby County, on Feb. 17, the annual African Heritage Month Dinner and Dance Gala will be held at the Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The official provincial proclamation for African Heritage Month was held Jan. 23 at Province House.

“As we celebrate African Heritage Month, we are reminded of the remarkable journey of our 52 historic African Nova Scotian communities and the various journeys of people of African descent who now call Nova Scotia home – these journeys are defined by resilience, wisdom and hope,” African Nova Scotian Affairs Minister Twila Grosse said in a news release. “We continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the voices of African Nova Scotians are heard, their rights respected and their contributions celebrated not just during this month, but every day of the year.”

This year’s African Heritage Month provincial theme, Our Smiles, Our Joy, Our Resilience as African Nova Scotians, outlines the spirit of perseverance that people of African Descent have demonstrated over the centuries in Nova Scotia. The theme also aligns with the final year of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent (DPAD) 2015-2024. The goal of DPAD is to strengthen global co-operation in support of people of African descent, increase awareness and the passage towards presence in all aspects of society.

“Over the coming month, the province will recognize leaders and moments in history that have defined the culture and heritage of African Nova Scotian communities,” said Lt.-Gov. Arthur J. LeBlanc. “We celebrate their indomitable spirits and strength, while recognizing that resilience thrives where there is accountability.”

The first Black History Month in Nova Scotia was observed in 1988 and renamed African Heritage Month in 1996.

Nova Scotia has 52 historic African Nova Scotian communities with a long, deep and complex history dating back over 200 years. Nova Scotia recognizes February as African Heritage Month each year to celebrate the dynamic culture and rich heritage of the province’s African Nova Scotian communities.